April Gigs in the BAG

Monday, April 1st - Leslie Dowdall & Mike Hanrahan

Doors 8:30pm. Gig 9pm. Admission: €15

Photo credit: Barry McCall

Leslie Dowdall, (In Tua Nua) and Mike Hanrahan (Stocktons Wing) have been engaged in a writing and performance partnership for the past few years. The live gig features Leslie and Mike performing new songs from this partnership, along with some of their old hits with Stocktons Wing and In Tua Nua.

Monday April 8th - The Southern Fold
Doors 8:30pm - Gig 9pm - Admission: €12

Ballymore Acoustic Gigs (BAG) presents The Southern Fold live at Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare on Monday, 8th April 2019. 


The Southern Fold will perform songs from their debut EP 'A True Ascension from the Wayward Path', and their upcoming full length album 'Bible Fear'.

"THEY CITE Hank Williams and Kurt Cobain as their inspirations, and they seek to communicate messages of truth and honesty through harmony singing and the craft of songwriting in its simplest, purist, form."

- Kernan Andrews, Galway Advertiser

Formed by Kilkenny native Emlyn Holden in 2014, and joined by Dubliner Laura Hand as co-vocalist the following year, The Southern Fold began gigging in earnest mainly in the Leinster area performing a number of self penned songs in the alt folk & country/blues vein.

With their debut EP, ‘A True Ascension from the Wayward Path’, released on April 28th, 2016, and Frieda Freytag (Fox Owl Crow, Dave Couse) on cello and piano, Joe Maher (The Mariannes) on guitar, and Rob Campbell (Pine the Pilcrow) on cello and bass brought on board to help broaden their sound and introduce more dynamics to the songs, the band have been busy spreading their sound on the Irish gig circuit.

2018 saw them play a number of dates including a couple of YouBloom gigs (Phoenix Park & the Mercantile), a slot at Vantastival and an upcoming show at the Rollercoaster Stage at BARE Festival. They also made it through to the final of the Nova Discovered competition in June 2018.

A successful Fundit campaign during the Autumn of '18 allowed the band (with new expanded lineup) to get back to the studio and record a full length album, now in the mixing stage and due for release in Summer 2019.

"Sounding a lot like something Australia's roots musician Bill Jackson might have written... This is pretty much as good as anything America can come up with... well worth hearing."
Frank Gutch Jr. - No Depression

“With some deft touches in songwriting and arrangements, the Southern Fold are a new prospect on the alt‐folk scene here. Ones to keep an eye on.”
- Eirecana

Monday April 15th - Gráinne Hunt & Brendan Walsh
Doors 8:30pm - Gig 9pm - Admission: €12

Gráinne Hunt is no stranger to BAG, having performed for us several times. 
It's a pleasure to welcome her back, this time with her collaborator, Brandan Walsh, and the fruits of a new project - Songs from Ireland - a collection of traditional Irish ballads and folk songs in both English and Irish, carefully arranged by Brendan to give a modern new feel to beautiful old songs.


Monday April 29th - Ultan Conlon
Doors 8:30pm - Gig 9pm - Admission: €12

Ultan’s ongoing Irish tour includes headline concerts in Dublin at Whelan’s on Saturday March 23rd and in Galway at the Black Gate on March 28th - so I'm delighted to welcome Ultan back to Ballymore Acoustic Gigs, at Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co.Kildare. 

This tour comes on the back of a very successful year for Ultan with a series of big shows at the 3Arena as a guest of the legendary John Fogerty, and at the Trinity College Summer Series at the invitation of Bryan Ferry. He also toured Ireland and the UK with Eddi Reader and The Stunning. 

Dana Cooper - Live at BAG - Monday, March 25th (Gillian Tuite opens)

Dana Cooper returns to Mick Muphy's, Ballymore Eustace, on Monday, March 25th. Doors open at 8:30pm, Gig starts at 9pm. Admission is €12

Website: https://www.danacoopermusic.com/
Video: "Making A Killing" - https://youtu.be/XtxsxhRwH1A?list=RDXtxsxhRwH1A
Out of the heartland of America, stomping grounds of Truman and Twain, “powerhouse” troubadour Dana Cooper dedicated himself to a life of music over 40 years ago. This song poet engages and inspires audiences around the world with his quick wit, insightful stories and commanding presence. He is the recipient of the 2014 Heritage Musician award from Pilgrim Center for the Arts in Kansas City, MO. He was also named the 2015 Spirit of Folk award winner by Folk Alliance International. He has performed on Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage and the Kerrville Folk Festival where he was nominated for their Hall of Fame. Cooper’s songs have been recorded by top-notch artists such as bluegrass star Claire Lynch; Irish vocalist Maura O’Connell; and luminary songwriters Pierce Pettis and Susan Werner. Cooper’s mixture of flat-picking, finger-picking and percussive strumming style is legend among other guitarists. An expressive singer his voice is ageless evoking a rich lifetime of experience.

At 12 he sang, played drums, guitar and harmonica in local bands. By 13 he began writing his own songs and at 16 he performed regularly at the prestigious Vanguard Coffeehouse in Kansas City. His deep love and commitment to a life of music drew Cooper away from an art scholarship. Cooper took to the road touring midwest college coffeehouses for one year then sold an electric guitar and his entire record collection to buy a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. Four months later he was signed to Elektra Records where his eponymous first album was released in 1973. The record features such acclaimed players as Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel and Jim Horn.Years later he returned to San Francisco City College to study another great love, horticulture. Still he played whenever possible in clubs all over the Bay Area. Cooper’s diverse experiences as a taxi driver, warehouseman, nurse’s aid, gardener, waiter and touring musician continued to bring maturity and depth to his songwriting.

Cooper eventually moved to Texas writing, performing and recording with Shake Russell in the late 70s and with his own power trio, DC3 during the early 80s. Returning to his roots as a solo performer Cooper relocated to Nashville in 1988. He has become an integral figure in the Music City songwriting community collaborating with renowned writers such as Tom Kimmel, Sally Barris, Kim Carnes and Don Henry. Cooper has been invited to participate in songwriting workshops from Belfast to Copenhagen to Austin.

 His prolific endeavors have resulted in 28 albums. The critically acclaimed Miracle Mile on Compass Records was nominated for a Nashville Music Award as “Best Pop Album” and was chosen by Performing Songwriter magazine as one of the top DIY recordings for the year. Harry Truman Built a Road was named one of the best records of 2002 by The Tennessean and was also chosen as one of the top twelve DIY recordings for that year. Made of Mud released on King Easy Records in 2005 won Cooper the “Best Male Songwriter Award” by Indie Acoustic Project. Working with co-producer/guitarist Thomm Jutz, Cooper released his 27th album, Building a Human Being, in September, 2015.

Cooper and Jutz also coproduced his 28th recording, Incendiary Kid, which will be released October 20, 2017 on Travianna Records. Americana and Folk radio stations across the country are now playing the new CD in anticipation of its release.

Robert K. Oermann in Music Row Magazine says of Building a Human Being “Nashville veteran Cooper wins the Disc of the Day prize. Highly recommended.”

Fellow singer songwriter Buzz Holland says “Cooper is a person who can sing like an angel and play like the devil.”

Legendary Texas singer songwriter Eric Taylor said of Cooper’s performance at Kerrville Fall Festival 2015 “Dana Cooper gave the best solo performance I’ve seen and heard for many years. Could be the best I’ve ever.”

Opening the show on the night will be young Irish singer/songwriter, Gillian Tuite, who's making a name for herself on the scene. Her new single 'Something We Should Try' Co-written with Fred Koller and produced by Thomm Jutz in Nashville, was just released on Thursday 14th March, and you can watch the accompanying video right here: https://youtu.be/PoCKQBvfDiI

Video:"Ghosts In Lonely Halls" - https://youtu.be/HO00c9Hoxxc

Albert Niland - Live at BAG, Monday, March 11th.

https://www.albertniland.com/

That Albert Niland is not better known, and more widely appreciated is, for my money, a crying shame.
So people like me do what we can to ensure that people like you, gentle reader, get to see him perform live, so that you can witness the remarkable talent he possesses for songwriting, and performing.
Without doubt, Albert Niland has the complete package; outstanding guitar work, coupled with a voice to die for, and a warm, charismatic manner, project self-penned songs of the highest caliber, along with sensitive, expressive interpretations of selected covers. 

I'm delighted to be bringing Albert Niland back to Ballymore Acoustic Gigs on Monday, March 11th
Doors open at 8:30pm, show starts at 9pm sharp. Admission is €12 at the door.

Videos:
"Sail On Jimmy (Pagan Ritual)" - https://youtu.be/4KN-Se7ZX80
"Kings Of The Kilburn High Road" - https://youtu.be/o-rd-0wUKwA
"Miss Monaghan (Reel Me Sideways)" - https://youtu.be/P-aIMPwB8kk
"Talking Dirty With The Whores" - https://youtu.be/dVkhgO1vCzQ

Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly - Live at BAG - Monday, March 4th 2019

Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly have been making music together, on and off for more years than they probably care to remember.

They have been a part of, or played with, the best of Irish music outfits since the early 1980's, most notably - The Fleadh Cowboys, and have shared stages, and studios with some of the greatest international performing and recording artists.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist/dobro playing Frankie, and multi-instrumentalist (fiddle/mandolin/banjo) Paul, play BAG at Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Monday, March 4th, 2019.

Doors open 8:30pm; Gig 9pm sharp. Admission: €15 at the door.

Megan O'Neill - Live Solo Homecoming Gig - Monday, Feb 25th

Ballymore Eustace native, Megan O'Neill returns to Ballymore for a one-off hometown solo show on Monday, Feb 25th.
Doors open at 8:30pm; Gig at 9pm sharp. Admission: €12

http://megan-oneill.com/

'Coming Home' - https://youtu.be/GYGF4zYxSmY?list=PLJivSJAu8QW7d_EvsI5fmCIj9A60dyYKD
'Ghost of You' - https://youtu.be/zgQS1dUMfhY?list=PLJivSJAu8QW7d_EvsI5fmCIj9A60dyYKD
'Bottle' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeTVBwxMUNQ&list=PLJivSJAu8QW7d_EvsI5fmCIj9A60dyYKD

"The Irish Carrie Underwood."
— The Irish Times

Chart-topping and multi-award winning Irish singer songwriter Megan O’Neill is one of the most exciting Alt-Country artists on the current scene.

She released her debut EP ‘Coming Home’ in May 2015, reaching #1 in Irish country charts & was awarded ‘UK EP of the Year’ (W21Music). In February 2017, Megan released a second record with her band ‘The Common Threads’ titled ‘Stories to Tell’ which was recorded at Mark Knopfler’s British Grove Studios with the legendary Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits, Roxy Music, Mark Knopfler) producing.

Megan has had her song ‘Don’t You’ featured on hit ABC TV Show Nashville, a performance at JJ Abrams’ Oscar Wilde party in LA alongside Gavin James and was selected to partake in the Americana Music Association song-writing workshop in 2017; performing at the annual conference during AmericanaFest UK. Megan has also performed multiple times at the prestigious Bluebird Café in Nashville as well as being twice chosen as one of Time Out London’s Rising Stars (2016 and 2017).

Festival appearances include: C2C Festival at the 02 London, Country Music Week, Cornbury, Black Deer, The Long Road, Harvest Festival and Nashville Meets London Festival.

Megan's brand new album 'Ghost of You' (June 2018) began turning heads when the first single - 'Why I Need You' - hit over 100,000 views online in less than a month. The second and third singles that followed ('Without' and 'Ghost of You') were incredibly popular amongst fans, bloggers and radio alike with playlist spots on the UK's most popular country-music stations. The full album was released 8th June 2018, hitting #1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Charts on release week.

Live radio appearances and performances include BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio London with Gaby Roslin, 2fm, BBC Essex, Today FM with Ian Dempsey, BBC Radio Wales, Marie Crichton’s Country Show on BBC, Nevis Radio, Amazing Radio, Chris Country and many, many more.

“Complex... with an old school country voice.”
— The Irish Independent
“Seriously fresh mix of modern country and pop, with a fusion of distinctly Irish elements.”
— Timeout Magazine London

John Blek - Album Launch Tour - Live at BAG, Monday, Feb 11th

Ballymore Acoustic Gigs is delighted to present John Blek on this Irish leg of the launch tour, before he jets off to Europe, early the morning after the show!
Monday, February 11th, Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare. Doors 8:30pm. Showtime 9pm,sharp. Admission €12

https://johnblek.com/

"Thistle & Thorn" promo video: https://youtu.be/K1vVKfRkj_Q
Current single, getting lots of radio play - "Blackwater" - https://youtu.be/fz1N5nYDsgI

Ever prolific, Blek has released 5 albums in the last 5 years. Currently he is preparing to release number 6, his new album Thistle & Thorn due on 1st Feb 2019. ‘Salt in the Water’ from Blek’s current album Catharsis Vol.1, was nominated for Song of the Year at the International Folk Music Awards 2018 at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City. It’s been a busy few years and it shows no sign of letting up. Endless tours and recording in Ireland, Europe, UK and USA keep the Irish troubadour busy.

He is a master storyteller and an inspiring live performer. His beautiful finger style guitar and joyous vocal weave a tapestry that is as poignant as it is skilful. He is a true artist.

The legendary Jim Page - Monday, Feb 4th 2019

Another year, and off we go again!

To bring the curtain up on another BAG year, I'm delighted to announce the return to Ballymore Eustace of the legendary Jim Page, for the first time since 2005, to Ballymore Acoustic Gigs at Mick Murphy's, on Monday, Feb 4th. Doors open at 8:30pm for a 9pm show. Admission is €15
While Jim Page is perhaps best known to Irish audiences for having written the Moving Hearts' hit song “Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette", there is much that many Irish music fans may not know of his far reaching influence across many musical genres. https://jimpage.net/

Read on.....

Jim Page was born in California in 1949 and grew up into the 1960’s in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The music and artistic experimentation of those days left a lasting impression on him. The politics and social awareness was a part of everything that was going on and it has stayed that way in Jim’s music ever since. 

Jim got his start in the bars and coffee houses of the lower Bay Area in 1966. On New Years day of 1970 he headed to New York City by thumb, arriving one frozen day in January with a broken fleece lined jacked and 34 cents in his pocket. He soon borrowed a guitar and started hitting the clubs of Greenwich Village, sometimes playing as many as three in the same night. But the scene had gone and the Village a shadow of it’s former self.  A year later he headed to Seattle. 

The last folk club in Seattle closed soon after he arrived and Jim took the whole town to be his stage.  Wherever there were people he would play: the streets, the college campus, the bus station, the bars, and at the city council meetings.  One day he walked into the TV station and said “I’ve got a song you should put on the news,” and they did.  Including the streets, the campus, the cocktail bars, and the rock and roll clubs Jim would play from 11am in the morning to 2am the next morning, with time out for traveling across town, often playing 5 clubs a night.  In 1974, after being threatened with arrest, Jim took on the Seattle city government and legalized street performing.  It was a landmark case and Seattle is now a famous city for buskers of all styles.

In 1975 Jim recorded his first album of original music, a vinyl LP called “A Shot Of The Usual”, released on his own label.  Two other albums followed in rapid succession.

In 1977 Jim journeyed to the UK and performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival. The response was instant and overwhelming and he walked away with a feature in the national music press, two booking agents, and a European tour for the next year. He was off and running and spent the next 6 years almost constantly on the road. He recorded two albums for a Swedish label called Nacksving and one for WEA Ireland.

It was in Ireland that Christy Moore first heard Jim’s song “Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette,” and made it a permanent part of his repertoire.  When Christy formed the great Irish band Moving Hearts “Hiroshima” was their first single and a centerpiece to their shows.

Jim returned to the States in ’83 and began reestablishing himself as a solo artist and as a player in the northwest music scene.  He experimented with duos, trios and more. In ’85
he recorded an album in Portland produced by the great Irish musician Micheal O Domhnaill.

Back in Seattle he began to experiment with electric music.  1988 saw the creation of the legendary band ‘Zero Tolerance’, named after George Bush’s draconian anti drug campaign. It was a four-piece rock and roll band with the exception that the music was focused on the songs and not on the dance.  They made one recording and broke up, as rock bands often do, leading Jim to more experimentation, this time with the internationally famous spoon player Artis the Spoonman who was himself the subject of a Grammy award winning song by Seattle grunge rockers Soundgarden.  It’s a small musical world.

Fast forward to the 21st century and Jim is busy with multiple projects in simultaneous array – constant solo performance, plus various ensemble configurations, leading to more albums. Jim was one of the founders of the Pike market performers Guild, Seattle’s first street performers union. They organized and ran the first and only Busker Festival to be operated entirely by buskers, and he again petitioned the City Council, this time to created Buskers Week.  Another Seattle first!

In 2005 Jim was invited to Taiwan for the first time, and again that next year.  In 2007 Jim was included in an all-star cast of the “50 most Influential Musicians In Seattle History,” a position shared with Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana.

To date Jim’s songs have been covered by The Doobie Brothers, Christy Moore, Moving Hearts, Dick Gaughan, Roy Bailey, David Soul, Leftover Salmon, and Michael Hedges.

He has received awards from Artist Trust and Jack Straw Productions.  His music has been included on many compilations, including the Grammy Nominated “Best Of Broadside.”

As of this writing Jim continues to write and to perform and to experiment with form and ensemble, and his songs continue to be pertinent and expressive of our times. 
To quote the late Utah Phillips:
“Jim Page’s songs get right to the point. He looks at the world clearly and reports what he sees with compassion, humor and a biting sense of irony. And boy! Can he sing and play. If you’re ever going to get the message, this is the messenger to get it from.”

“Every now and again I encounter a singer who gives me a glimmer of hope. Jim Page carries the light.” - Christy Moore